Grand slam for Mineola’s Mike Conway to help propel the Mustangs to an 11-0 start to the season pic.twitter.com/1rk9FI3mq1
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 20, 2018
Mineola remains undefeated with a 7-2 victory over Locust Valley with senior Mike Conway hitting a grand slam in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
“We came through in the clutch when we had to,” said Mineola Head Coach Helms Bohringer. “Every time we play Locust Valley it’s a close game.”
Junior Justin Bestler tossed a complete game for Mineola. “Another rock solid performance…he keeps us in the game. He’s a competitor and he doesn’t like to lose,” said Coach Bohringer.
Locust Valley struck first blood on a RBI single by senior Matt Dellaquila scoring junior Steve Proko from second, who doubled earlier in the inning.
The 1-0 lead for the Falcons did not stand for long. In the top of the third, Mineola senior Marc Giordano reached base on a hit by pitch. Later, Bestler helped his own cause driving in Giordano on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-1.
The very next inning, Mineola senior Chris Wiercinski knocked in junior Joe Lubrano on a RBI double. The Mustangs increased the lead on an error by Locust Valley pitcher Steve Proko scoring Wiercinski.
Locust Valley answered back in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Luke Kratovitz drove in Dellaquila, who reached on an error earlier in the inning, with a RBI single making it 3-2.
Mineola threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded. But, Proko worked himself out of the jam to keep it 3-2.
Proko, however, got himself into another jam in the sixth. After a walk and a single, Proko was replaced by junior Constantinos Siafakis. Siafakis walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. That’s when Conway smacked a grand slam to left to put the game away at 7-2.
Proko notched the loss for Locust Valley giving up five runs. However, he did go 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Kratovitz finished the day 2-3 with two singles, two stolen bases and a RBI.
Bestler finished with six strikeouts allowing only two runs (one earned) and one walk. Mineola senior and leadoff hitter Eddie Pardo went 3-4 with a run scored.
“We still have a lot of room for improvement…we’re just hoping to keep playing better baseball and see how far we can take it,” said coach Bohringer.
They will be back in action on Monday against Island Trees.
(Check out the Axcess Baseball Instagram page for footage of Mike Conway’s grand slam)
